Car-bolster.



W. P. RICHARDS.

GAR BOLSTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.19, 1910,

Patented Aug.26, 1913.

COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH co.,wAsl-lmnT-' zi, Bic.

NIED STATS FATNT @FFfQE.

l/VILLARID F. RICHARDS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GOULD COUPLER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CAR-BOLSTER.

Application filed March 19, 1910.

To all whom it may concern Be it, known that I, WILLARD F. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Buffalo, county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Bolsters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bolsters and especially to car bolsters of simple construction and wherein is embodied a maximum of strength for a minimum of material employed in construction.

One feature of novelty embraced in the invention is the cross-sectional shape of the bottom member of the bolster, which channel-shaped in cross section, the inner face of the channel in the bolster being preferably in the form of an inverted arch.

Further objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section of a truck bolster constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is aplan view. Figs. 3, at and 5 are vertical cross sections through said bolster on the lines 38, 1-4, and 5-5, respectively, of Fig. 1. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail cross sections through a diagonal strut, and a vertical strut, respectively, on the lines 66 and 77, of Fig. 1.

Referring to the various figures of the drawings, I will now proceed to describe in detail the preferred form of truck bolster, A. It consists, mainly, of a top member, E, a bottom member, F, compression members, G, '1", and tension members, H, H, and I, I. The top member, E, is in the form of a plate which may be curved lengthwise or it may occupy a horizontal position. This plate is shown as provided with the central bearing, a, side bearings, e, e, and longitudinal openings, c, the ends of said top member being cut away as at 6 Bottom member, F, is curved for substantially its length except at the end portions, 7, thereof, said end portions being substantially horizontal and adapted toreceive the bolster springs. Said bolster springs may be retained in position on end part, f, by any preferred form of spring seats should they be desired.

An essential feature of the present invention, in so far as it relates to bottom member,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 26,1913.

Serial No. 550,410.

F, consists in a channeled construction of said bottom member. As shown, member, F, is provided with up-standing webs, f, at the sides thereof. ft is formed with a substantially flat bottom face, i, and with a curved upper face, f", the latter leing in the form of an inverted arch, as shown in F 3 and 11., The arched upper face, f, of bottom member, 7', extends from one flat end, 7, to the other flat end as indicated in Fig. 1, whereby the channeled form is imparted to bottom member, F, for substantially its length.

Top member, E, is provided at its respective side edges with longitudinal webs or flanges, g, g, the latter being positioned at an obtuse angle to the plane of said men'lber, E, as shown in Figs 3 and el, and furthermore, each web, 9, tapers in the direction which it extends from said top member, E. Said webs, g, are not at a right angle to top menr her, E, because, as previously sta ted, they occupy a slightly obtuse angle with respect to said top moi'nber. Top member, E, and bottom member, F, are joined at the sides of the bolster by two series of struts, or they may be termed, compression members, G, G, and tension members, H, H, and I, I. The side portions of the bolster intermediate members E, F, are skeletonized to produce the aforesaid tension and compression members or the vertical and diagonal struts, but the ends of members, E, F, are united by plates, E, said ends being hollow, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and the top member being recessed at e, as hereinbefore described. Parts H, H, are tension members or diagonal trusses which converge downwardly from top member, E, toward the base of a king-pin post, J, and, also toward bottom member, F. Parts I, I, are, also, tension members or diagonal struts, and they incline from member, E, toward member, F, said parts, I, I, converging downwardly. Parts Gr, G, are vertical, and they serve as compression members or Vertical struts. They are positioned intermediate diagonal struts, H, I, and H, 1, respectively, diagonals H, H, being between the vertical struts, (see Fig. 1). These struts join the webs, g, of top member, E, with flanges, f, of bottom member, F, but the struts of the two series are laterally inclined with respect one to the other and upwardly with respect to bottom member, F, whereby the bolster is given a tapering form in cross section, see Figs. 3 and 4.

The diagonal struts intermediate top and bottom members have their upper edges at an obtuse angle to the plane of top member, E. In cross section, each strut is provided with a flat bottom edge, 72 and a top curved edge, 2', see the cross sectional views Figs. 6 and 7. Bottom member, F, is provided with central webs, K, and with a plurality of transverse webs, L, L. These webs project upwardly from the top face of said member, and they intersect as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. Central web, K, rises from the arched face, of channeled member, F, and it runs from said face to the end of said bottom member the top edges of said webs being flush. The ends of bolster, A, are substantially rectangular in cross section, see Fig. 5, whereas at all other points intermediate the ends, the bolster is, approximately, triangular in section, bottom member, F, being considerably narrower than top member, E. The ends of the bolster may be said to be skeletonized, and said ends are recessed at m for cooperation with the channel guides of the truck side frames.

Although I have described my improvements in great detail nevertheless I do not desire to be limited thereto except as clearly specified in the appended claims, since many changes and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my improvements what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A bolster having a lower member which is channeled in cross section, the inner face of said lower member having substantially the form of an inverted arch.

2. A bolster having a lower member which is channeled in cross section, the inner face of said lower member having substantially the form of an inverted arch, and an upper member suitably connected thereto.

3. A bolster having a lower member which is channeled in cross section, the inner face of said lower member having substantially the form of an inverted arch, an upper member and a plurality of members connecting -the upper member to the lower member.

4. A bolster having a lower member which is channeled in cross section, the inner face of said lower member having substantially the form of an inverted arch, an upper memher and compression and tension members connecting the upper member to the lower member.

5. A bolster having upper and lower members, and a plurality of series of tension members each having an arched inner face, connecting said upper and lower members, each series of tension members being at one side of the bolster and said lower member having a channeled cross section and the inner face of which has substantially the form of an inverted arch.

6. A bolster having upper and lower members, and compression and tension members cooperative therewith, each of said compression and tension members being at one side of the bolster and having an arched inner face, and said lower member having an inner face substantially in the form of an inverted arch.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLARD F. RICHARDS.

Vitnesses EDMUND M. MAW, CLIFTON O. EASTERBROOKS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

